exert no small influence in the development of their immense domains, 

 all which will retro-act upon the interests of their business. 



The managers of many of these corporations do seem to appreciate the 

 importance of tree-planting, and some have even begun operations along 

 their lines upon a scale commensurate (as initiative steps) to the great 

 interest involved, in these noble efforts they are congratulated. The 

 liberality which has been extended toward one who has recently traveled 

 extensively in the investigation of the catalpa, is hereby thankfully ac- 

 knowledged with the well-founded hope, however, that while he has 

 labored willingly and without expectation of reward, the favors of these 

 corporations will be amply repaid to them, if they do but put into prac- 

 tice the suggestions so freely offered by their friend. 



Contributed by request of Mr. E. E. Barney, the disinterested patron of 

 a useful tree, by one who has long known it, who stood sponsor for it in 

 1853, and whose more intimate acquaintance only hightens his admira- 

 tion for its excellent qualities. 



JOHN A. WARDER, M. D., 



Pretft Am. Forestry Association. 

 NORTH BEND, OHIO, Feb. 25, 1879. 



INTERESTING LETTERS. 



RALSTON STATION, TEN.V, Feb. 1st, 1879. 

 E. E. BARNEY, Dayton, O., 



Dear Sir: Your letter came duly to hand, and in reply would say that 

 time alone can tell how long the catalpa wood used here will last; posts 

 that were planted when the country was first settled, in 1810 to 1830, are 

 yet sound, and show no sign of decay. If there are two varieties, there 

 is but one here, at least I have never' seen but one kind the black bark 

 variety, or Speciosa, as some call it. It grows abundantly*along the Obion 

 River, attaining a girth of sixty to ninety inches, and sixty to seventy- 

 five feet high. In open situations it does not grow so tall, but often 

 reaches the height of forty feet, with a clear trunk of twenty feet; among 

 other timber they will be clear of limbs three-fourths their height; have 

 never seen one but what would split straight, at least comparatively so. 

 Their peculiar habit is in rich river soil subject to overflow, but will grow 

 on our high ridge lands, and will make astonishing growth. I have a 

 specimen block from a tree fourteen years old, fourteen inches in diame- 

 ter. It is strictly a forest tree, and is used for posts almost exclusively. 

 All the finest specimens have long since been used up, but nearly every 

 stump has thrown up sprouts, some of them are now ten to twelve inches 

 in diameter, and forty to sixty feet high. During the month of July it is 

 attacked by a large black worm, perfectly harmless in its nature but a re- 

 pulsive looking creature. If the tree is isolated it will often be completely 



